The Writings of Sam Houston, Volume VIII

WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1860

191

as evince an ignorance on my part. As to the reference of these "differences" to the decision of the Attorney General, I have simply to remind you that he like yourself, is an officer of the Executive Department and subordinate to the head. There are but three departments known to our Government, as specified in the Constitution-the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive. As the officers of the Legislative are subject to the Legislature, and the clerks and marshalls of the Judiciary to the Courts, so, in like manner, are the officers of the Executive subordinate to the head of that Department, who, in turn, is alone responsible to the people for the conduct of its officers and who in the discharge of that responsibility is sworn to see that the laws are faithfully executed. To some extent the Executive is responsible for the acts of his subordinates: if he fails to see that the laws are executed; but under no circumstances are the subordinates responsible for the acts of the Executive. Sam Ho~ston.

1 Exec1ttive Records, 1859-1861, p. 249a, Texas State Library.

A GRANT TO THE HEIRS OF MEMUCAN HUNT THE AMOUNT OF THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY ACRES OF LAND, NOVEMBER 13, 1860 1 In the Name of the State of Texas To All to Whom these Presents shall come, KNOW Ye, that I Sam Houston, Governor of the State of Texas, by virtue of the power vested in me by Law in accordance with the Laws of the ·State in such case made and provided, do by these presents grant to the heirs of Memucan Hunt Deceased, assignees of Friedrich Bodemand their heirs or assigns forever, Three Hundred and Twenty acres of land, situated and described as follows: [The field notes are omitted here.] Sam Houston, Governor. Francis M. White, Commissioner of the General Land Office.

1 Franklin Pape1·s, University of Texas Library.

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